Flashlight



R. H. CARTE R Aug. 23, 1955 FLASHLIGHT Filed Aug. 4, 1950 IN 1 'EN TOR.

LD H. CARTER REG! ATTORNEYS United States Patent FLASHLIGHT Reginald H. Carter, Doylestown, Pa.

Application August 4, 1950, Serial No. 177,747

4 Claims. (Cl. 24010.66)

(Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described hereinmay be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmentalv purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates generally to improvements in illuminating devices, and pertains 'moreparticularly to improvements in portable self-contained electric lamps.

Conventional'flashlights cannot be used under certain extreme service conditions by reason of the danger of explosion initiated by the sparking of external switch mechanisms, the inability of an operator wearing cumbersome protective gloves to actuate the external switch, and

the prevalence of rendering the flashlight inoperative due to the admission of water and other foreign substances into the chamber thereof. In addition, flashlights that have been developed in an effort to solve some or all. of the above problems are inadequate for the purposes intended, and usually require two-handed operation.

The subject invention solves all of the above problems effectively, providing a substantially waterproof and explosion proof flashlight operable under the most extreme service conditions by simple whipping movement of the gripping hand of the operator.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a portable self-contained electric larnp. that is substantially waterproof and explosion proof and that is operable facilely and readily by movement of the grippinghand of the operator.

Another object is to provide a portable self-contained electric lamp having a cam-actuated on-otf switch that is protected adequately against entry thereon of water and other foreign substances that may be encountered during extreme service conditions.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a flashlight, showing a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The outer shell of the flashlight comprises a tube 11 having an outwardly turned annular shoulder 13 at one end thereof. The other end of said tube carries an end cap 15 which includes a bore 17 adapted to receive a microswitch hereinafter described, an annular cam surface 19 diverging outwardly from said bore, an upstanding annular flange portion 21 force fitted and secured on the end of tube 11, and a male-threaded portion 23 011 the end of said cap distal said flange portion 21. A second end cap 25 forming a cup 27 is threaded upon portion 23 to provide a container for spare bulbs and the like.

The inner shell of the flashlight comprises a tube 29 having a snug sliding or transition fit in tube 11 for relative sliding and rotating movement. Preferably, the tube 29 is coated with an oil, glycerine, or other fluid of low freezing point to facilitate relative movement of tubes 11 and 29. One end of said tube 29 carries a switch assembly which includes an insulating bushing 28 mounted in tube 29 by countersunk setscrews 31, and a microswitch 33 of the normally-on type having an actuating button 35, said microswitch being carried in and extending from a diametral slot 37 in one end of said bushing 28 and secured therein by means of strap 39 and screws 41. A spring seat 43 is secured in the other end of said bushing and mounts a coil spring 45. Ribbon conductor 47 is connected to one contact of said microswitch and extends over bushing 28 for engagement with the inner wall of tube 29, and conductor 49 links the other contact of said microswitch and spring seat 43.

The other endof said tube 29 mounts a collar 51 adapted to carry the limit-stop collar and the head portion hereinafter described. Said collar is provided with external threaded portions 53 and 55. The limit-stop collar 57 is provided with an internally threaded portion 59 whereby said collar is mounted on threaded portion 53 and an inwardly turned annular flange 61 seated slidably on tube 11 and adapted to abut flange 13 when tube 11 1S moved relative to tube 29.

The head portion of the device comprises a tube 63 having internal threads 65 whereby said tube 63 is mounted on the threaded portion 55 of collar 51. A lens 67 is secured in the distal end of said tube 63 as by a suitable adhesive and by gasket 69. The lamp assembly carried in said head portion comprises a conventional incandescent lamp 71, an insulating collar 73 seated on the base of said lamp, a reflector 75 in which said lamp and collar 73 are seated with said base in contact with said collar, and an insulating bushing 77 threaded on said reflector. The reflector 75 is provided with a cylindrical portion 79 transition fit in tube 63 for relative sliding and rotating movement, and the bushing 77 is provided with a medial stud 81 adapted to contact the pole of a dry cell, said stud carrying a spring-pressed button 82 adapted to contact the filament pole of said lamp.

The operation of the device by simple whipping movement of the gripping hand of the operator is achieved by means of the structure hereinabove described. Dry cells 83 are carried in the chamber of tube 11, so that the complete electrical circuit is made as follows: The base of the nethermost dry cell contacts one terminal of switch 33 through spring 45, spring seat 43 and conductor 49 successively. The other terminal of the distal dry cell 83 is connected to the other terminal of switch 33 through stud 81, button 82, lamp 71, the casing of the device, and conductor 47 successively, each of the named elements being electrically conductive. Since the circuit is broken in switch 33 by depressing button 35 thereof, operation of the flashlight is ready and facile. In the off position shown in Fig. 1, the button 35 is depressed by the wall of bore 17. Upon sliding tube 11 longitudinally relative to tube 29 and thereby elongating the flashlight within the limit proscribed by the abutment of flanges 61 and 13, the switch and the button 35 thereof travel forward until the button is positioned in the frustoconical chamber having cam wall 19. When button 35 is thus moved out of bore 17, it is released from its depressed position. Such release completes the circuit, illuminating the lamp 71.

It is thus evident that slight whipping movement of the flashlight is effective to move the head and the tube 29 relative to the end cap 15 and the tube 11 to thereby release button 35 and illuminate the lamp, and that such action is not affected by relative rotation of 3 tubes 11 and 29. It is also apparent that the flashlight can be restored readily and facilely to off position, telescoping of tubes 11 and 29 causing button 35 to ride on cam surface 19 until it is in depressed position in bore 17. During such operations, seal eflectiveness against the admission of water and other foreign substances is assured by the transition fit provided, and the other objects hereinbefore expressed are accomplished.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that Within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. In a flashlight, a first tubular member, a lighting device mounted in one end of said member, a power source mounted in the body of said member, a circuit coupling said lighting device and said power source, said circuit including a switch mounted in the end of said member distal said lighting device, said switch including a movable element having a normally'closed switch-cir cuit position and an open switch-circuit position, a second tubular member fitted over a portion of said first member for relative sliding movement, said second member having an annular cam surface engaging and actuating said element to open switch-circuit position upon telescoping movement of said first and second members.

2. In a flashlight, a first tubular member, a lighting device mounted in one end of said member, a power source mounted in the body of said member, a circuit coupling said lighting device and said power source, said circuit including a switch mounted in the end of said member distal said lighting device, said switch including a movable element having a normally-closed switch-circuit position and an open switch-circuit position, a second tubular member fitted over a portion of said first member for relative sliding movement, said second member having an end cap, the interior wall of said end cap including an annular cam surface engaging and actuating said element to open switch-circuit position upon telescoping movement of said first and second members.

3. In a flashlight, a first tubular member, a lighting device mounted in one end of said member, a power source mounted in the body of said member, a circuit coupling said lighting device and said power source, said circuit including a switch mounted in the end of said member distal said lighting device, said switch including a movable element having a normally-closed switch-circuit position and an open switch-circuit position, a second tubular member fitted over a portion of said first member for relative sliding movement, said second member having an end cap at one end, the interior wall of said end cap including an annular cam surface engaging and actuating said element to open switch-circuit position upon telescoping movement of said first and second members, the other end of said second member being flanged outwardly, and a collar secured to said first member abutting said flange to limit relative extension of said first and second members.

4. In a flashlight, a lubricant coated first tubular member, a lighting device mounted in one end of said member, a power source mounted in the body of said member, a circuit coupling said lighting device and said power source, said circuit including a switch mounted in the end of said member distal said lighting device, said switch including a movable element having a normallyclosed switch-circuit position and an open switch-circuit position, a second tubular member transition fit over a portion of said first member for relative sliding movement, said second member having an end cap at one end, the interior wall of said end cap including an annular cam surface engaging and actuating said element to open switch-circuit position upon telescoping movement of said first and second members, the other end of said second member being flanged outwardly, a collar secured to said first member at the lighting-device end thereof, said collar abutting said flange to limit relative extension of said first and second members, and a head portion including a lens, said head portion being secured to said collar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,223,883 James Apr. 24, 1917 1,518,530 Lipper Dec. 9, 1924 1,665,867 Wachtel Apr. 10, 1928 1,948,728 Meginniss Feb. 27, 1934 2,176,301 Haas Oct. 17, 1939 2,226,647 Watkins Dec. 31, 1940 2,427,526 Golder Sept. 16, 1947 2,459,898 Stifliel Jan. 25, 1949 

